Scholarships

Creating Opportunities for Aspiring Artists

The Lee Strasberg Creative Center sponsors scholarships and awards aimed at providing distinguished training to students from around the world, many of whom may not have the opportunity or means to pursue their dreams and advance their craft. 

In addition, each of these scholarships are named after notable performers and artists who exemplify The Institute’s philosophy and Lee Strasberg’s work. In doing so, the Creative Center also establishes role models for these prospective students, making them accountable for their training, while also building a lineage of talented recipients.

Apply for Scholarships

The Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship

Established in honor of The Institute’s 50th anniversary, this scholarship pays tribute to founders Lee and Anna Strasberg and their lifelong commitment to nurturing actors and artists from all walks of life.

The Chandra Wilson Scholarship

Celebrating Institute alumna Chandra Wilson’s acclaimed career on Broadway and television, and her unwavering support for emerging artists. Awarded annually to a non-matriculated BIPOC student.

The Legacy Award

Presented annually to a matriculated student who demonstrates great passion and potential for a career in the performing arts and is in need of financial assistance.

The Eleonora Duse Scholarship

Named for the legendary Italian actress who inspired Lee Strasberg’s development of The Method, this scholarship is awarded to an international applicant of exceptional talent and demonstrated community leadership.

The James Baldwin Scholarship

Honoring the legacy of James Baldwin — pioneering writer, civil rights activist, and student of Lee Strasberg — this scholarship supports BIPOC applicants who are dedicated to creating new work.

The Vincent D’Onofrio Award

Presented annually to a matriculated student who exemplifies the passion and range of this celebrated actor and who requires financial assistance to continue their studies.

The Cicely Tyson Scholarship

Honoring the legacy of Cicely Tyson — student of Lee Strasberg and lifetime member of the Actors Studio — this scholarship supports BIPOC applicants who carry forward her dedication to racial equity and social justice in the arts and beyond.

The Kevin Corrigan Scholarship

Recognizing Young Actors alumnus Kevin Corrigan — whose own scholarship was a crucial early step in his career — this award supports a dedicated student in the Young Actors Program.

The LAUSD Scholarship

The unique voices of Los Angeles have always pushed the boundaries of creativity, and we are honored to support the artistic voices of LA’s emerging artists.

Hear from our scholarship recipients

  • “Receiving the Vincent D’Onofrio Scholarship was especially meaningful, as it supported me through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and gave me the extra time I needed to truly absorb the application of the Method. It took me a while to find my footing with the technique, but once it clicked, the work began to flow with clarity and confidence. My time at the Institute not only deepened my craft, but also offered profound personal and artistic revelations. I left with a richer understanding of myself, both as an actor and as a person, and that continues to shape my work to this day.”

    – Manik Singh Anand, Vincent D’Onofrio Award Recipient

  • “Receiving a scholarship to attend the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute was a blessing beyond words. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to study full-time under the guidance of true experts. This scholarship didn’t just support my education, it opened up my world as an actress, giving me the foundation to grow, take risks, and pursue my craft with confidence.”

    – Reina Macias, Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship Recipient

  • "No other acting school offers what LSTFI offers, and that goes beyond just receiving the scholarship. In the two years I spent studying at The Institute, I felt like part of a large family. Staff members were always approachable and ready to hear you out, and every teacher sought to get the best out of every student. Even years after the final conservatory performance, I still carry the lessons I learned at LSTFI, the most important one being: 'Stay true to yourself and you will find truth in others.'"

    – Almir Kurtic, Eleonora Duse Scholarship Recipient

  • "No words can explain how amazing the staff was, the amount of knowledge I've consumed, and the atmosphere I was surrounded by in the Lee Strasberg Institute. I couldn’t have imagined a better experience. It was such an amazing opportunity I was given and it was really great learning from teachers whom I could notice the love of acting they had. I’m forever grateful I got to experience this, and I hope so many other talented actors get to as well.”

    – Kamila Rodriguez, Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship for Young Actors Recipient

  • “There is so much discourse and, frankly, ignorance surrounding "The Method". Method Acting has become popularized in a way that strips the true essence of what the creator, Lee Strasberg, intended. Cutting through the noise, I wanted to find out exactly what Method Acting was right from the source and I can honestly say with every fiber of my artistic and physical being, it has completely revolutionized my approach to acting. It's not a fad, it's not mythical, it's not extreme. It's simply a process.”

    – Michael Houston, James Baldwin Scholarship Recipient

  • "I don't know where to begin to express how much the Cicely Tyson Scholarship meant to me and attending the Institute as a whole. Without the scholarship, I would have never been able to live my dream of becoming a true artist and without the Institute, I would have never learned the true potential of my acting abilities. I am forever thankful for the amazing experience I had at Strasberg and I'm truly grateful for all the wonderful people I met from; the faculty to the instructors who taught The Method, and the amazing students I was able to call friends."

    – Alyssia Johnson, Cicely Tyson Scholarship Recipient